back then president clinton pushed the assault weapons ban as part of a broader crime bill. it was not just an imperious and grabbed, but it was an important piece of legislation, and it was a different time. despite the prosperity, the american public was i refer action on crime in 1994, and this is why. the crime rate was double what it yesterday. think about this. there were almost 2 million violent crimes in 1994 which compares to in the most recent -- believe it or not it takes as long, the most recent numbers available are 2011, 2011. that is the latest data available. in 1994 there were 51 million fewer people in this country. a more prosperous times as well. 23,000 murders a year 23,000 compared to a 2011 just about 14,000. still too many, but 54 million more people. by the way, of those murders, overall in 1994, just above 15,500 of them, 43 of them were committed by firearms in '94. in 2011 the number 8,583. and even though the assault weapons ban passed in september that year in 1994, it was only two months later that it is argued that the democrats lost the major